Is it the end of Lansdowne building ?

New building may last for another 100 years, says expert

Chairman of Karnataka State Technical Task Force C S Vishwanath on Tuesday said that Lansdowne building will have a longer life only if its reconstructed.

Speaking to media after conducting preliminary inspection at the building, where the roof of a shop collapsed on August 25 claiming the lives of four people,  Vishwanath one of the members of three-member  technical panel constituted by the State Government to decide on the future of the 120-year-old structure, said ‘if constructed all anew the building may last for another 100 years. In the case of repair, it may last for another 15 years.’

Lack of maintenance

Mincing no words, Vishwanath said that the dilapidated state of the building that led to the incident is owing to lack of maintenance. Similar is the condition of Doddamarket on Sayyaji Rao road and Vani Vilasa Market popular as Chikka Market.

Referring to Lansdowne in particular, Vishwanath said when there was a problem in the building in the year 1998, he had given a report.

Similarly, in the year 2002 too, he had submitted a report. Earlier, he recommended for taking measures to check accumulation of water on the terrace, also one of the reasons for seepage in the same.

Medical education and district in-charge minister S A Ramdas who accompanied the expert during the exercise said, Vishwanath will make a thorough inspection of the building for two days from Wednesday (Aug 29).

UNESCO

On August 30, a team from UNESCO will inspect the building. Both (committee and UNESCO team) will discuss over the pros and cons and prepare a report. On September 4, district administration will meet and decide over the measures to be taken according to the recommendations in the report.

Report

Ramdas said, apart from Lansdowne, the district administration will seek status report of remaining heritage buildings in the city including that of Amba Vilas Palace, that is leaking at places.

The recommendations of the report will be implemented whatsoever, the minister added.
Vice-principal of Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering (SJCE) Syed Shakib-Ur-Rehman also the member of the technical committee, commissioner of MCC M R Ravi, superintendent engineer Krishna, executive engineer Krishna Bhovi, revenue officer B Srikanta Swamy, assistant commissioner Thimmappa were present.